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Enhanced Graphite Fiber Electrodes for a Microbial Biofuel Cell Employing Marine Sediments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

Gregory Konesky
Gregory Konesky*
Affiliation:
ATH Ventures Inc., 3 Rolling Hill Rd., Hampton Bays, NY 11946
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Abstract

A microbial biofuel cell has been demonstrated utilizing organic material in the sediment as fuel and dissolved oxygen in the overlying seawater as the oxidizer. A graphite electrode placed in the sediment acts as the anode and collects electrons both by mediated and non-mediated processes. Another graphite electrode suspended in the seawater above the sediment acts as the cathode and transfers these electrons to oxygen in the seawater. The sediment serves as a natural permeable membrane that permits hydrogen ions to flow from within the sediment and combine with the oxygen to produce water. Electrons which flow from the anode to the cathode through an interconnecting wire are used to power external circuits. Both fuel and oxidizer are naturally present and self-renewing, and the graphite electrodes are inexpensive and non-toxic. Overall, this is a very “green” fuel cell. A significant improvement in collection efficiency is demonstrated by using graphite fiber electrodes.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 756: Symposia EE/FF – Solid-State Ionics – Materials for Fuel Cells and Fuel Processors , 2002 , FF1.5
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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References

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